THE
FIELDS INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
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FIELDS
MATHED FORUM MEETING AGENDA
Theme: MATHEMATICAL
PREPARATION FOR PRE/IN-SERVICE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS
October 29, 2011
11:30AM - 4:00PM
BROCK UNIVERSITY, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines,
ON, L2S 3A1
Welch Hall, Room 209
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AGENDA
11:30-12:30 Lunch (provided)
12:30-12:40 Reports: OAME, OMCA, CMS, CMESG, etc.
12:40-2:30 Individual presentations
2:30-3:00 Coffee break (provided)
3:00-4:00 Individual presentation followed by a panel discussion
12:40-1:10pm Conference on teachers' mathematical preparation:
Salient issues and some highlights
Presenter: Jérôme Proulx (Groupe de recherche
sur la formation à l'enseignement des mathématiques
(GREFEM), Département de mathématiques, Université
du Québec à Montréal)
Abstract: In this talk I report back on events around the conference
on the mathematical preparation of teachers held in April 2011
at UQAM. To do so I insist on the themes of the conference, its
structure, and the ideas shared by presenters (20 in total) and
among participants through highlighting salient issues that emerged
and were debated during these two full days. In particular, I
treat questions concerning the importance of mathematical activity,
the relation/nesting between teachers' preparation in mathematics
and in mathematics education (didactique), the definition given
to "being well prepared in mathematics", and, finally,
the subjectivity and beliefs of teacher educators for the mathematical
preparation of teachers. As these questions/themes were not entirely
new, what was innovative for us in Quebec was to (1) take the
time to address them through a dedicated conference and (2) through
a variety of voices that play a role in Quebec's mathematics teacher
education system (e.g., teacher educators, researchers in mathematics
education, mathematicians, university teacher assistants, pedagogical
advisors in schools and school districts, teachers of mathematics).
Thus, I address these questions through the context of the conference,
its participants, and its organizers.
1:10-1:40pm Doing mathematics in mathematics education
Presenter: Frédéric Gourdeau (Université
Laval)
Short Bio: Frédéric Gourdeau is currently the chair
of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Université
Laval. He is a researcher in Functional Analysis, more precisely
in Banach algebra theory. His work in the mathematical education
of pre-service teachers (mostly for the secondary level) and his
interest in mathematical education led him to be a regular participant
at the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMSEG/GCEDM)
annual meetings. He was president of the group from 2004 to 2008.
His commitment to teaching has been recognized at the local and
national level. He is a recipient of the 3M National Teaching
Fellowship (2006) and of the Excellence in Teaching Award from
the Canadian Mathematical Society (2005). He regularly gives talks
to high school students, is a contributor to Show Math and is
president of the Association québécoise des jeux
mathématiques (AQJM) which runs a friendly mathematical
competition which boasted more than sixteen thousand participants
in 2010.
Abstract: The Canadian mathematical education landscape is rich
and varied. We are fortunate to have a vibrant community of mathematics
educators, mathematical education researchers and mathematicians
who regularly engage in discussion at the national and local levels.
The Canadian Mathematics Education Study group and the Fields
Institute Mathematics Education Forum are two positive examples
of this. Of course, we can (and perhaps we should) wish for more
exchanges of this nature.
The ideas I wish to explore in this talk have to do with the role
of mathematicians like myself in the mathematical education of
pre-service (and possibly in-service). These ideas have been slowly
maturing over the years. Some of these are now clearer to me,
partly because of discussions which I had last year with two researchers
in mathematics education. I will describe the context of these
discussions and present these ideas for all of us to explore.
1:40-2:10pm Mathematics Content Knowledge and Classroom Success
Presenter: John Rodger (Math coach, Toronto).
Short Bio: John Rodger has been involved in Mathematics Education
for over 35 years. He has been a secondary school teacher and
department head, a curriculum writer, and a contributing author
on several secondary textbook projects. Currently, John spends
his time as a Provincial Mathematics Coach supporting Math GAINS
initiatives throughout the province.
Abstract: Why do many students struggle to experience success
in the mathematics classroom? Does the fault lie with the curriculum,
the resources being used or the instructional approaches that
are employed? What impact does a teacher's comfort level with
the mathematics they are teaching have on their ability to help
students make connections in the classroom? John will share his
observations on these and other questions that impact on student
success in the mathematics classroom.
2:10-2:30pm When Phones Do Calculus
Presenter: Bill Ralph (Brock University)
Short Bio: Bill Ralph is a professor of mathematics at Brock
University who created the "Journey Through Calculus"
software to provide students with a hands-on experience of calculus.
He continues to contribute to Brock's new MICA program that gives
future teachers the opportunity to make and test mathematical
conjectures and helps them create interactive software to teach
mathematics. His mathematical art can be seen at www.billralph.com.
Abstract: How do we provide future teachers with a rich and modern
experience of mathematics that makes sense in a world where our
phones can do sophisticated mathematics? Brock's answer to this
question was the development of a new teaching philosophy that
is at the core of several courses designed with teachers in mind.
We will look at examples of this new point of view and discuss
its impact on past and future teachers.
3:00-3:15pm "Why didn't I learn this before?" Building
conceptual understanding with preservice teachers
Presenter: Jennifer Holm (Lakehead University)
Short Bio: Jennifer is a PhD candidate at Lakehead University
with 10 years of experience teaching at the elementary school
level as well as 3 years teaching at Lakehead University in the
Junior/Intermediate division of the Teacher Education program.
Abstract: This presentation will discuss beginning conceptual
knowledge scores of five years worth of Junior/Intermediate preservice
teachers. The fifth year will be discussed in further detail to
share specific examples of preservice teachers creating models
and showing their understanding of integers and fractions. Specifics
of what conceptual understanding we have seen preservice teachers
entering the Teacher Education program with will be explored,
as well as descriptions our efforts to build understanding within
the one year program.
3:15-4:00pm Panel and General Discussion
4:00pm Adjournment
DIRECTIONS:
Driving Directions: http://brocku.ca/contact
From Toronto: Follow the Queen Elizabeth Way around the lake, then
Southeast to St. Catharines. Take exit 49, which will lead you onto
Highway 406. Continue until you reach St. David's Road. Take the
St. Davids Road West Exit and follow until you reach Glenridge Avenue.
Map of Brock: http://brocku.ca/facilitiesmgmt/CAMPUS-MAP-LRG.htm
Parking: Lot D, off of main roundabout. Cost is $6 for the day
(see campus map at http://www.brocku.ca/webfm_send/348)
For more information, including the program, go to www.brocku.ca/,
or contact Joyce Mgombelo (jmgombelo<at>brocku.ca)
or Chantal Buteau (cbuteau<at>brocku.ca)
